The Orange Cap has become one of the most recognised individual awards in the Indian Premier League. Every IPL season, the award goes to the batter who finishes as the tournament’s highest run-scorer. Since the first season in 2008, the Orange Cap has been won by some of the biggest names in T20 cricket, including Sachin Tendulkar, Chris Gayle, David Warner, Virat Kohli, Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill.
The history of the Orange Cap also shows how IPL batting has changed over the years. Some seasons have been dominated by experienced international stars, while others have produced breakthrough campaigns from younger Indian players.
With IPL 2026 now completed, Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has added his name to that list. The 15-year-old finished the season with 776 runs and became the youngest player to win the Orange Cap.
IPL Orange Cap Winners List from 2008 to 2026
Here is the complete season-by-season list of Orange Cap winners in IPL history:
| Season | Orange Cap Winner | Team | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Shaun Marsh | Kings XI Punjab | 616 |
| 2009 | Matthew Hayden | Chennai Super Kings | 572 |
| 2010 | Sachin Tendulkar | Mumbai Indians | 618 |
| 2011 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 608 |
| 2012 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 733 |
| 2013 | Michael Hussey | Chennai Super Kings | 733 |
| 2014 | Robin Uthappa | Kolkata Knight Riders | 660 |
| 2015 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 562 |
| 2016 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 973 |
| 2017 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 641 |
| 2018 | Kane Williamson | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 735 |
| 2019 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 692 |
| 2020 | KL Rahul | Kings XI Punjab | 670 |
| 2021 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Chennai Super Kings | 635 |
| 2022 | Jos Buttler | Rajasthan Royals | 863 |
| 2023 | Shubman Gill | Gujarat Titans | 890 |
| 2024 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 741 |
| 2025 | Sai Sudharsan | Gujarat Titans | 759 |
| 2026 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Rajasthan Royals | 776 |
The historical list from 2008 to 2025 is consistent with established IPL records, while the 2026 season ended with Sooryavanshi at the top of the run-scoring chart with 776 runs.
2008: Shaun Marsh Became the First Orange Cap Winner
The Orange Cap journey began with Australia’s Shaun Marsh in the inaugural IPL season. Playing for Kings XI Punjab, Marsh scored 616 runs and finished the 2008 tournament as its leading run-scorer.
His performance immediately gave the award importance because the IPL was still a new competition and several established international players were competing for attention. Marsh’s consistency made him the first name to be written into the Orange Cap record books.
2009: Matthew Hayden Leads Chennai Super Kings
In the second IPL season, former Australia opener Matthew Hayden finished at the top of the batting charts. He scored 572 runs for Chennai Super Kings.
Hayden’s powerful approach suited the shorter format perfectly. His performances also showed that the Orange Cap was not limited to young Indian batters or specialist T20 players.
2010: Sachin Tendulkar Becomes the First Indian Winner
Mumbai Indians legend Sachin Tendulkar became the first Indian player to win the Orange Cap in 2010.
Tendulkar scored 618 runs during the season. His achievement was significant because it brought one of India’s greatest batters into the history of an award that had previously been won by overseas players.
2011 and 2012: Chris Gayle’s Back-to-Back Orange Caps
Chris Gayle dominated the next two seasons.
He scored 608 runs in 2011 and then produced an even bigger campaign in 2012, scoring 733 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Gayle’s two consecutive Orange Caps established him as one of the most destructive batters in IPL history. His six-hitting ability and ability to turn matches around in a few overs made his performances particularly memorable.
2013 and 2014: Hussey and Uthappa Take the Award
Michael Hussey won the Orange Cap in 2013 after scoring 733 runs for Chennai Super Kings.
The following season, Robin Uthappa became the 2014 Orange Cap winner. He scored 660 runs for Kolkata Knight Riders and became another Indian name on the prestigious list.
Uthappa’s achievement was especially notable because he was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders side that went on to win the IPL title that season.
David Warner’s Three Orange Caps
David Warner has a special place in Orange Cap history because he has won the award three times, more than any other player.
The Australian batter first won it in 2015, when he scored 562 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He returned to the top of the run-scoring charts in 2017, scoring 641 runs.
Warner completed his three Orange Cap wins in 2019, when he scored 692 runs.
His three victories came across different seasons, but they all highlighted the same quality: consistency at the top of the order.
2016: Virat Kohli’s Record-Breaking Season
The 2016 IPL season produced one of the greatest batting campaigns in tournament history.
Virat Kohli scored a remarkable 973 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore. That remains the highest number of runs scored by any batter in a single IPL season.
Kohli’s 2016 campaign included four centuries and seven fifties. His run tally was so high that he remains comfortably ahead of every other single-season Orange Cap winner.
For many fans, the 2016 season remains the benchmark for individual batting performances in IPL history.
Kane Williamson Wins the Orange Cap in 2018
Kane Williamson became the Orange Cap winner in 2018 after scoring 735 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
His campaign was different from some of the more explosive performances associated with the award. Williamson combined consistency with controlled stroke play and played a major role in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s run to the final.
KL Rahul and Ruturaj Gaikwad Continue the Indian Dominance
KL Rahul won the Orange Cap in 2020 after scoring 670 runs for Kings XI Punjab.
A year later, Ruturaj Gaikwad claimed the award for Chennai Super Kings with 635 runs. Gaikwad’s campaign was particularly important because it was his breakthrough season at the highest level.
His Orange Cap-winning season also coincided with Chennai Super Kings winning the IPL title in 2021.
Jos Buttler’s Brilliant 2022 Season
Jos Buttler produced one of the most impressive Orange Cap campaigns in recent IPL history in 2022.
The Rajasthan Royals batter scored 863 runs, including four centuries, and played a central role in his team’s run to the final.
Buttler’s 863 runs remain among the highest season totals in Orange Cap history, behind only Virat Kohli’s 973 and Shubman Gill’s 890 among the listed winners through 2026.
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Shubman Gill Wins in 2023
Shubman Gill took his batting to another level in IPL 2023.
Playing for Gujarat Titans, Gill scored 890 runs in the season. His campaign included three centuries and four fifties.
Gill’s total remains the second-highest individual run tally in an IPL season among Orange Cap winners, behind Kohli’s 973.
Virat Kohli Returns to the Top in 2024
Eight years after his record-breaking 2016 season, Virat Kohli again finished as the IPL’s leading run-scorer in 2024.
He scored 741 runs for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and won his second Orange Cap.
With this achievement, Kohli joined Chris Gayle as a two-time Orange Cap winner.
Sai Sudharsan Wins the Orange Cap in 2025
Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan became the 2025 Orange Cap winner after scoring 759 runs.
Sudharsan scored those runs in 15 matches and finished the season as the leading run-scorer. His achievement made him the latest Indian batter to join the Orange Cap winners’ list before the 2026 season.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Wins the Orange Cap in 2026
The IPL 2026 season produced one of the most remarkable Orange Cap stories yet.
Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finished the season with 776 runs in 16 matches and won the Orange Cap. He also recorded a strike rate of 237.30, one of the most extraordinary batting numbers seen in an IPL season.
Sooryavanshi was only 15 years and 65 days old when he won the award, making him the youngest Orange Cap winner in IPL history.
His 2026 campaign included one century and five fifties, along with 72 sixes. He also scored a 36-ball century against Sunrisers Hyderabad, underlining just how aggressive his batting was throughout the season.
His performances in the playoffs were equally impressive. He scored 97 from 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator and followed it with 96 from 47 balls against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2.
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Players Who Have Won the Orange Cap More Than Once
Only three players have won the Orange Cap more than once through the 2026 season.
| Player | Orange Caps | Winning Seasons |
| David Warner | 3 | 2015, 2017, 2019 |
| Chris Gayle | 2 | 2011, 2012 |
| Virat Kohli | 2 | 2016, 2024 |
David Warner remains the only player with three Orange Cap awards. Chris Gayle was the first player to win it twice, doing so in consecutive seasons, while Kohli became the latest two-time winner after his 2024 campaign.
Highest Run-Scorers in a Single IPL Season
Virat Kohli’s 973 runs in 2016 remain the highest tally by an Orange Cap winner.
The next major totals include:
- Virat Kohli – 973 runs, 2016
- Shubman Gill – 890 runs, 2023
- Jos Buttler – 863 runs, 2022
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – 776 runs, 2026
- Sai Sudharsan – 759 runs, 2025
This list shows just how high the scoring standards have become in modern IPL cricket.
Orange Cap History Shows the Evolution of IPL Batting
The history of the Orange Cap is more than just a list of winners. It reflects the changing nature of T20 cricket.
The early seasons featured experienced international stars such as Shaun Marsh, Matthew Hayden and Chris Gayle. Over time, Indian batters became increasingly prominent, with Tendulkar, Kohli, Rahul, Gaikwad, Gill and Sudharsan all winning the award.
The 2026 season added another major chapter through Sooryavanshi, whose age and extraordinary strike rate made his achievement stand out.
Frequently Asked Questions About Orange Cap
What is the Orange Cap in IPL?
The Orange Cap is awarded to the batter who scores the most runs in an IPL season. It is one of the league’s major individual awards.
Who won the first Orange Cap in IPL history?
Shaun Marsh won the first Orange Cap in 2008 after scoring 616 runs for Kings XI Punjab.
Who has won the most Orange Caps?
David Warner has won the Orange Cap three times, in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
Who has scored the most runs in one IPL season?
Virat Kohli holds the record with 973 runs in IPL 2016.
Who was the first Indian Orange Cap winner?
Sachin Tendulkar was the first Indian Orange Cap winner